Coping with Interviews

After coming through all the hurdles of the selection process, you will eventually arrive at an
interview. This is of course, a major obstacle for many job applicants. Although they may have the
qualifications, experience and a proven trac record, they may lose out to a candidate who
!interviews better.!
"o what does !interviewing better! actually mean# It comes down to the candidate being well
prepared and confident. A candidate who can answer questions in a way which is acceptable $but
not necessarily right% to the interviewer, someone who nows something about their potential
employers business and the post they hope to fill. These are really the basic components of any
candidate who !interviews well!. There are undoubtedly other aspects employers may loo for in
relation to specific posts & having their own ideas, articulate, thining on their feet, aspects which
will be related to the job and to the company!s preference in employees.
The employer will also be looing to fill a post, which has a particular job specification & in other
words personal aspects besides the experience, and qualifications that can be put down on
paper. The interviewer will set out to ascertain that the candidate has these personal qualities,
sills and abilities the company requires.
These two essential ingredients are interlined. 'ood preparation instills confidence.
"o the basic approach to an interview is to be well prepared. This means two things & preparing
yourself practically for the interview, and gathering nowledge and information you can draw on
during the interview.
(e sure you now the time, date and location of the interview and name of interviewee
where appropriate.

Chec out how you will get to the location, and when you need to set off to be there in
good time & do a dummy run if necessary. )lan to get there no earlier than half an hour
before the interview time, anticipate delays.

*ave what you are going to wear ready in advance & everything down to your underwear.

+o not go to the interview laden down with baggage & psychological as well as physical.

Tae the bare minimum of belongings necessary.

Concentrate on the interview at the interview & nothing else.

If you are ased to bring certificates, references etc, get them ready before the day.

Tae your interview letter.

,n arrival ensure the receptionist nows you are there, visit the toilets to tidy up etc.

If you are well organised and have planned for the day your confidence will increase.
The interview is a chance for you and the employer to get to now one another. It is -,T the time
to get to now about the post or the employers business.
+o gather information about your employer before you are interviewed & what do they do, what
are their current projects, what other interests do they have# As staff & many companies will offer
you the chance to tal about the vacancy with someone, use the opportunity to find out more
about the company.
(igger companies will have ). departments, smaller ones will provide you with some information
& libraries can provide information on local business and eep directories of national business.
/se the internet & many companies have a presence here now.
0ae sure you now what the job entails & get a job description, as someone in a similar post1
ring the company to clarify if unsure.
.emember the employer is interested in you as a person, your experiences and your opinions $in
most cases%. +o tae the time to sit down and thin about you, who you are and what you!ve
achieved. It can be highly embarrassing to now more about the employer than yourself.
"it down with your C2 and mae notes, about your wor record, what you!ve achieved. 3oo at
yourself as a person in employment & how do you see yourself, what have you done, what
ambitions do you have. 0ae notes and prepare and rehearse sound bites about yourself.
.emember that one of the most common of interview questions is !Tell me about yourself! prepare
a sound bite for this in particular, but not a life history. /sually interviewers want to now about
personal qualities not achievements & though examples can be included to support your
statement.
Interviews vary tremendously, from very informal to formal. *owever, some questions can be
anticipated, as can the subject matter. If you are well prepared, then the majority of problem
questions should not arise. 4ou will now about the company, you will now about yourself and
you will have a good idea of the demands of the job & these questions will not be a problem to the
well prepared interviewee.
A few general rules5
"pea up when answering questions.

Answer briefly, but try to avoid yes or no answers.

+on!t worry about pausing before you answer, it shows you can thin and are not spitting
out the sound bites you learned6

+on!t worry about admitting you don!t now & but eep this to a bare minimum.

+on!t embellish answers or lie6 (e as honest as possible.

(e prepared for hypothetical situation questions1 tae your time on these.

(e prepared for the unexpected question, that!s designed to see how you cope with the
unexpected.

If you as questions eep them brief during the interview, remember you!re the interviewee.
At the end of the interview as your questions in an open manner, that is questions which cannot
be answered yes or no. 7.g. tell me about....# what is....# why.....#
Than the interviewers for their time when you leave quietly and calmly, and smile, even if you
now hate them.
There is always the opportunity to as them questions at the end of the interview & remember the
interview is a two way process, you need to be sure you want to join them too6
Try to concentrate on issues which are both important to you and combine as apparent interest in
the company, leave issues lie terms and conditions until the very last, even they may feel the
most important to you. 8rite your questions down prior to the interview and tae them with you.
Good topics to touch on include:
9. The competitive environment in which the organisation operates
7xecutive management styles

:. 8hat obstacles the organisation anticipates in meeting its goals

;. *ow the organisation!s goals have changed over the past three to five years.

'enerally, it is most unwise to as about pay or benefits or other similar areas. The reason is that
it tends to mae you seem more interested in what the organisation can do for you. It is also not a
good idea to simply have no questions at all. +oing so maes you appear passive rather than
curious and interested.
Suggested Questions:
9. 8hat are the main objectives and responsibilities of the position#

:. *ow does the company expect these objectives to be met#

;. 8hat obstacles are commonly encountered in reaching these objectives#

<. 8hat is the desired time frame for reaching the objectives#

=. 8hat resources are available from the company and what must be found elsewhere to
reach the objectives#

8ear what is appropriate for the post and the company. It may vary from smart, formal wear in
some instances to very formal dress in others. Try and get an insight into what the company
would expect from employees or through observation. 8hat would be appropriate for a building
company is very different for a public relations agency.
(e well groomed and clean. Try to loo calm and confident, simple things lie deodorant can
boost your confidence.
,nce you are ushered into the interview room there will usually be a short exchange of
pleasantries and ice breaing. +on!t be fooled by this time & it really is designed to put you at ease
in most circumstances, but these initial moments are the most formative & don!t go over the top
being exceptionally friendly or alternatively going rigid with fear feeling that your handshae was
too limp6 A pleasant natural smile, a firm handshae and a brief exchange of words in a natural
manner of this greeting is sufficient. "ome simple, but frequently broen rules6
"it comfortably with both feet on the floor, lean slightly towards the interviewer.

+on!t play with your hair or you hands. >eep them out of pocets6

Try not to create defensive barriers between you and them, lie a brief case on your
nees, folded arms or crossed legs....even if you feel you need to. It!s natural, but your
interviewer will not physically attac6

0aintain natural eye contact with the interviewer & that is maintain eye contact, but don!t
stare lie a snae6

If there!s more than one interviewer, loo at who!s taling.

8hen you!re taling, shift your glance from one to the other.

+on!t over use your hands, if you are a natural gesticulator.

+on!t squirm and fidget.

+o nod and 0mm, to show you!re listening to them.

Above all try to be you, try to be natural, unless you!re naturally offensive6

,beying these rules, will allow the interviewers to concentrate on you, and not what you!re doing
in the interview. (ody language conveys all sorts of messages, and the right body language will
convey the message of a well&balanced and confident individual...............even if you!re not6